Canary Islands authorities have issued a health warning as swimming has been banned on three beaches(Image: (Image: Getty))

Urgent Canary Islands health warning as swimming banned on three popular beaches

Swimming has been banned on three beaches in the Canary Islands as authorities have issued a health warning due to poor water quality in the popular tourist spots

by · The Mirror

Health warnings have been issued by Canary Islands authorities, resulting in a swimming ban at three popular Tenerife beaches.

Officials are urging locals and tourists alike to stay informed by following official updates and obeying signs in the affected areas to avoid unnecessary risks.

The emergency response centre, CECOPAL, announced via social media that red flags have been raised at Los Charcos, El Bloque, and Acapulco bathing areas due to poor water quality. This decision comes after recent water tests showed unsatisfactory results, sparking safety concerns.

Both the Anaga District and the Santa Cruz City Council have been informed and fully support the measure to ensure beachgoers' safety. However, this isn't the first health warning for the popular tourist spot.

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The Canary Islands is asking the public to keep up to date with beach closures (file)( Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Recently, tourists were alerted about the spread of sloth fever in the Canary Islands. Three cases of the untreatable virus have been detected in the Spanish archipelago, with each individual having previously travelled to Cuba.

A 36-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman from Tenerife, along with a 52-year-old man from Gran Canaria, tested positive for sloth fever. The Canary Islands, home to a population of 2.2 million across seven islands; Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro, remain on high alert.

Despite being a part of Spain, they are just 62 miles west of Morocco. Astonishingly, over two million Brits flock to Tenerife alone each year. It comes as protests from locals demanding tourists "go home" continue on the islands, with Brits surrounded by fuming Spanish residents. 

Protesters say they are opposing over-tourism which raises living costs in the area, and are now uniting over 20 factions under the "Canary Islands have a limit" campaign. In the Playa de las Americas in Tenerife, a resort popular with many overseas holidaymakers including Brits, protesters appeared on the beach while tourists were sunbathing and chanted: "This beach is ours."

Sara Lopez, 32, from Gran Canaria said: "We need a change in the tourist model so it leaves richness here, a change so it values what this land has because it is beautiful". Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Valencia on Saturday to call for more affordable housing, saying tourist flats push up housing prices.

In the Canaries some 8,000 protesters took part in the demonstration, and one woman was carrying a cardboard poster which said: "Tourists, go f*****g home." Other posters borne by protesters said: "Enjoying a day at your pool? That water could be going on food" as well as "Macrotourism destroys Canary Islands" and "The Canaries have a limit. More trees, less hotels."